Veneer-drier.



PATBNTED JUNE 12, 1906.

E. F. SMITH.

VENERE URIBE..

APPLIOATIQN FILED PB.9,1905.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1` PATBNTED JUNE 12, 190e. E. P. SMITH. VBNEER DRIBR.

APPLICATION FILED TEBA). i905.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2. l

faveao ff y- Za j UNITED STATES PATENT oEEToE.

EDWIN F. SMITH, OF PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA. ASSIGNOR TD EDWIN F. SMITH COMPANY, Ol" PHIL 'DELPHLL PENNSYLVNlA A CCRPGRATION OF NEW J ERSIY.

VENEER-DRIER.

l No. 822,997.

Specification of Letters atent.

Patented .rune 12, 19,06.

To all whom, it may concern.-

Beit known that I, EDWIN F. SMITH, a citizen of the United States, residing at Philadelphia, in the county of Philadelphie and State of Pennsylvanie, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Veneer- Driers, of which the following is a. speciiicetion, reference being hed therein to the eccoin anying drawings, forming apart thereof.

This invention relates to venccr-driersor a paratus or machines for drying Wood in t e form of thin sheets.

Une of the objects of the invention is to erfert such-drying uniformi and without subjecting the material to traits or currents, such as would unevenly dry the material, causing local shrinkagos and cracking, or such es would dry the surfaces only, leaving the interior undried.

Another object of the invention is to apply the heat to the mete-rial in closest proximity to the surfaces thereof end substantially constantly, but not et the pressure devices or feed-rollers whereby the regression of the material relatively to the eet-applying surfaces is effected, thereby avoiding ewasteul e. iplieetion of heet and avoiding compeeting ol the surfaces, such es would impair the eseepc of moisture from the interior of the materiel and appl "ing the heet economically, effectively, and penetrotively, and permitting the read evaporation, expansion, and escape of t 1c moisture as well from the interior as from the surfaces of the material.

My invention also has for its objects simplicity of construction, durability, certainty and effectiveness of operation, enel the realization and attainment of othcr-ob'ects and edventegeous features, which will c apparent from the following description of a vencer-drier embodying my invention.

The drawings illustrate a veneerdrier embodying my invention, the full length of the machine being shown in l `i rure l and onefourth ol' the length thereof in `igs. 2 and 3.

Fig. 1 is a side elevation, drawn to small seele, of the feed-rollers, hcatin -plates, and other perte throughout the full ength of the complete machine, omitting the framework, supports, end connectie end controlling mechanism. Fig. 2 is a si c elevation, partly broken away, of one-fourth of the complete machine, including the delivery end thereof.

Fig. 3 is a lon itudinal vertical section of parte shown in lig. 2, including the feed-rollers, heating-plates, heet-insulating covering and delivery-board. Fig. 4 is an enlarged vertical transverse section taken on e, plane indicated by the lines 4 4, Figs. l and 5, with middle arts broken away. Y Fig. 5V is a sec'- tional p an, drawn to the same scale as Fig. 4, with middle sind other parts broken away, showing e part of the length of the machine, including one set of feed-rollers and one set of heetin -platee In t e construction of the machine shown l build up the vframework of a pluralit of side frames iend 7, resting upon and bo ted to Vxn. suitable bed 5, each side frame 6 and each side frame 7 carryin the bearin s for four sets of upper feed-ro lere 8 and ower feed-rollers 9 and providing supporting an controlling means for its pro ortion of the upper heating-plates l0 end ower heatingp etes 1I. In the machine shown I provide sixteen airs of feed-rollers spaced a art longitudine ly, so that the veneer will ways be gripped by the rollers of one pair, and teen pan-s of heatin -plstes located between the pairs of feed-rol ers, and therefore each of the side frames 6 and 7A is one-fourth of the full length of the machine, and these side frames are uadruplicated to produce the full-length mec ine.

Each of the side frames comprises en upper'and a lower longitudinal part and vertical connecting-standards in pairs, each pair of standards receiving end holdin against horizontel movement'th journaloxes at one end of a pair of feed-rollers, the lower journal-boxes i3 resting solidly upon the frames and the u per journal-boxes 12 resting upon spacing-b ocks 13 between the up er and lower journal-boxes and yielding y held against upward thrust by helical compression springs 14, the compression springs boerin down upon the tops of the u per journa -boxes 1-2 and being adjustably ie'ld at their upper ends by thrust-bolts l5, aesing througi threaded holes in the eme end clamped by jam-nuts 15', the thrustboltsend journal boxes having centering onction of the feed-rol ers is not? only to feed the veneer through the machine, but also to apply pressure theretoiend control `projections partly enterin the springs. The

the Sharpe tliiiirol', prrrriiiiiigf` warping or curling din'inihr il'ifuli-ying iiprnilioii and maintaining llic vrnovr iii lliidoeii-iid llzit COndition in lilii niiivliiiif` shim n und diflivifn ing il: in such condition, und lilii` roniprrsioii- S rings 14 will lii propi'rli` :id pialud (lo runen tile feed-r illri--` to i-xert thil dwiiird priissiirr. These fvvdwolliik in lili(x prvii-l'iwl iiidiocli-- ment 0f niy inwiililin idiowii nl` intri-Y Imll heated und iii'i not uiiiplojyril lii' lliii app ication ill limit, 'they liiffiiirlir lo www extent heated liy lriiaoii nl' llwirlirliii-iiiiii ini a heated chaiiilii-i l'oriiird hy llir iiiliiiiiiill.- heated platre` :ind limit-iiirllllilli` fj iiiiilwiizil. as hereinaflifr drei-rinvii. und :d i rriiwn ofthe proximity ol' lliu liefliiiiyplitlrs, :is is desllable; lint they rirc nifl lrvlrupplyinii devices.

At the outside ol' llio li'fiiiiig ain ihr sidi" Shown t0 the reni' iii l'`ij, iiirl lo Shi lil't Fi S. 3 and 4, sniiill friir-ii'iiwriil ill :iwi ma, vi ed, o iffxcdly .wriirril lo i each fee `roller shalt. wlilirr feed-rollei is rotiiliwl;V lower feed-roller, thv#l .-liiiiill being provided with loin: il Will accommodate llir arriiiil willi 0f the Vertical disiinrrs liriiuwii iii rollers re uil-od by llir iiill'l-ri of veneer rind in tlicaim-l il, side of the franii` liiz'ggi-r 51H rv wi ri )r0vided, rotativolj, ioiiiirigliiif lill li leed-rollers sind lixiediy w-iii if` f fili Inil, of the shafts of nppri will liii'rr lrrilAiiill ers alternately, lllir iipiwi r Ail i pail' being jfiiilid lo *Ew lim' -iiiilvi'iilh` the next {id iziiifnt piii'r iiiifl #"iiiroller 0l that pair iii :Ilia iii-:irl :vidi-l; l the next adjacent pair, :ino mi im., l), iliw connectiii,gege-,iirliiihr ilir iippi r l'frd llo Wjill berotitted in fnir dirirlioii :md llw lower feed-rollen` will liv riiiilril in lli." iipipfiiliif iii rection, and :ill ol ilir inclini-lill.. i-- will liv if tated at the suini' sp( Pow-r iii i itp plied t0 any roller sliiil' oi' wir und would lili lio mdrr :will ==lA :meloni: e

lud iii'- so applied iis to rotin;- llil lrirddrillrrs :it

pipe 19 enters the rnd ol' viii-li plfilu I'roiii 3 which the Central partition extends and :itY

one side of suoli partition, eo that llii elimini 1 may enter the plato at thii sido ol' tliil` ventral partition and traverse the onlinl length ol" .the plate at this side thm-vof and pim; around the end of the` partition :i iid triiwrzy i the` vntire length of the late nl'` the opporsi `e side of thelparbition and) escapa through a steam nl mi il f,

l iii :M- movi-inria through lli;l drivi Plii iiiiiid lili-i wl ri; ilnit Elio thin opinii-Liiwni llo :iiiviuls'vizl incl iippiwrrl hwi'ln "wrinolilir plnl- 1-rr not liiiriiilly in-- `iid :il ni lliw ivre are lateral ppmriyf liliiii Fui'Mri-llrra l'rrini thv Minimi; -5 llir plaies, sind thin; midi' lol' the iesiriipe1 exhiill lil' lli@ riiiisliiiil :ipii .iiiuii nl' liilii'i, iinv i'fipol i\'liirlii'-1i1'iH mxiffid l'i-liiis ihil ii'ioifliiiii iii ller Venom' The rliirw proxiiiiilj; ol' llir ii'lif-iw ol ilir liriiln iij; plzitm lo llivy vrniwi pri-i wins the rriipo l: mir filx ninizsliirr li'oiii lliil wirl'ariw :riore 1": pirllj,l .Iiiin from hr inlrfrior il thi veneer inici prvvinl e i'iipid recipe wl' lhv nioieturii lo ly, which would rrslill in warping` uneven shiinliiiggii, and difllol'iiion nl' the viniii. The heat i1 applied, prneliultively and tlm moislimA driven oil' rxlmiinl irclyv :is ill l'roiii the inlri'ilii' :iwL from ihr ranrlii-:w of l liv vrnrri: AS. llirr :iioisliirr is driven oil' the wiiirr shrinks; lint llir lsiiil'oi 'ty nl' ihr li-vlnrr iipiriilion :inem-w: :i iiiiiloriiiifv ol' shrinkage, :ind the ri-iiwf` iii l'rwpirniilx4 shrunk in the iii-whine lo iiii rxlenl iiiriwiirod iii iiiilics, lult without wizii'piilg, i'l'itrliing, or splitting.

l pl'ovdu for the propulsnpplirt and iidjnalziiilil of ihn` lower limiting-pluies l1 hy niraxis of adjustingSri-ewa 2l, threaded into lziliral projet-thine if the lower plates lovated at riiirli vorher tliiirrol, these adjusting-screws iiipgilr pro-vision i:-

-iivily mid ill:

ri-stiiii; upon the upper surfaces of the lowerl 1 liorizoi'ital parte ol' llie side frames 6 and 7. I

provde` for the support and adjustmentof the iipper luating'mlates by adjusting-Screws 22, threaded into lateral projevtions of the. upper plates at rarh corner thereof these adjuSting-screws being of considerable length,

so as to rest upon the upper surfaces of the corresponding corner proections of the lower plates and being of re uced diameter and smooth cylindrical surface below their threaded portions, so as to provide bearin for the side guide-rollers 23, the function o which is to promptly correct such sli ht tendencies to b ique movement as would cad to thelateral escape of sheets of veneer from the' drier. l also provide additional and yielding supporting means for the upper plates, such means consisting of helical extension-springs 24, lo-

cated at each corner of each upper plate and held at their lowerends in eyescrews 25, these eyescrews being screwed into the upper plates and held at their upper ends in` eyebolts 26, these eyebolts passing freely t rough brackets 27 of the frame and being adjusted by means of nuts 28. The function of these supportnU-springs 24 is to support so much of the weght of the upper plates as to diminish the resistance of thcsi` plates to u Ward movement, so as to permit them to yle d in the event of irregularit in the thickness of the veneers,such as woul otherwise result in jamming the machine. For example, the Weight of each upper )late in the machne shown is about three undrcd pounds, and the supporting-springs may be so adjusted as to support very nearly all of this Weight, thus diminishing the resistance to upward movement to the small part of the weight of each plate which is not thus supported. To permit of the entrance between the plates of irregular or thickened portions of'veneer, I

Aehamfer the adjacent faces of the plates at the upper plate permits t their front ends, so as to provide inclined abuttinghend faces, and I make similar vprovision at t e rear end faces to ermit the machine to be reversed and veneer ached out of it. Th's provision of yielding supporting means for e plates to be safely d usted in such close proximity to each ot er as to allow only free clearance for the veneer passing through the thin spaces between the plates, as is desirable, in order that theheated surfaces may bein close proximity to theveneer.

t the entrance end of the drier a feedboard 29 is rovded, Fi l, and'at thc delivery endo the drier a elivery-board 30 is provided. The veneer is entered between the adjacent surfaces of the rollers S and 9 of the first pair of feed-rollers and ripped thereby and carried between the ad1acent heated surfaces ofthe plates 10 and l1 of the first pair of heating-plates and tiren between the rollers 'of the second pair of feed-rollers, and so on through the machine, constantly exposedY to the heat radiatedlfrom the heatingplates, which are almost in contact with the veneer passing between them and held in the desired flat condition by the feeding and pressure rollers 8 9.and protected from drafts of dry or cold air, with provision for the expensive escape ofthe vapor generatori by the direct and intimate application of beat to the veneer, solthat in its passage through thc` machine the moisture in the veneer is substantially evaporated and expanded out of the veneer, and the veneer is delivered upon the delivery-board .'tlin a dry-and Hat condtion and ready when sullicently cooled for an; of its various uses.

t is obvious that Yvarfrms modifications may be made in the construct on shown and above particularly described within the princi le and scope of In invention.

hat l claim, an desire to secure by Let ters Patent, isi-- 1. A veneer-drier comprsing heating and inclosing means provided with opposite heetapplying surfaces arranged substantialiy horizontally and in such close proximity to each other asy to allow only suilc ent clearance for the veneer to pass freely between the surfaces, such surfaces being clear of obstructive projectons or corners, the heating and Yinclosing means being provided with openings for the expansive escape of vapor, and nonheat-applying feeding and pressure means arranged to come in contact with the vencer at intervals in its passage between the heatapplying surfaces.

2. A veneer-drier comprlsng heatfng and inclosing means provided with opposite heatapplying suriaces arranged substantially horizontally and in such close proximity to each other as to allow only sullccnt clearage for the veneer to pass freely between the surfaces, Such surfaces being clear of obstructive projections or corners, the heating and inclosing means being provided with openings for the expansive escape of vapor, and

non heat applying feeding and pressure means arranged to come in contact with the veneer at intervals in its passage between the heat-applying surfaces, the heating and inclosin Y means being of such length as to maintain t e veneer in a moist atlnosphero'and in a heated condition until a substantially complete' evaporation of the moisture 5s attained.

3. A veneer-drier comprising heatingplates having oppositely-arranged heat-applyng surfaces for applying the heat intimately to the veneer simultaneously on both sides thereof, such opposite heat-applying surfaces being arranged in close proximity to cach other and spaced apart. only sufficiently to permit the veneer to pass between thorn and having cliarfered corners and no obstructive projections, and non-heat-applying feed-rollers for the veneer, the heating-plates and feed-rollersA being arranged successively with the heating-plates spaced apart lon itudinali Y and the feed-rollers arranged in t e longitudinal spaces between the heatingplates and at r"substantial distances thorefrom.

4. A veneer-drier comprisingl heat-ing- ICO plates arranged in pairs, the p plzitvs having op!ositellinrrengod lnu,l-up l, ['lxiinpg surlaues im" applyingr the' bent inlil mately lo tbl` Veni-vr sirnullnniously on bol li sides thereof, smb opposilb lwutmpplvingf .surl'm'w wing nrruup'iil in rinse proxiniil\y to oni-h other und spared npnll oli "r .suliii-ii'n! ljr to permit tlm 'febrer to pass between llwin nml bnvingj f'lnmilrful corners und no nl) strnrfliw ,nwjvrlion, nbsmilinlly horinonl titl non-lumi-upplying limbrollers for lliii Veneer, the lo `iling-pluies unil fmibrollrlrv being arranged uwrssifvi' wil h tlvl limitingplntes spared `:pmt linngifiudinnllx" :ind tbv leed-rollers urmngril in the longitudinal spaces between the lurrilini;'platin` :md t

snlistimlifal lisier-wx thfrvfioin, nml invio og nieuwe 1 tlu linm'lurllnnl spares betweo.l ibn hrz.T plrles :ai top unil botharing openings lor ib.: intr-rail @fpunsir esrnpe nf vnpor from the wur-or.

5. A v'eneowleier compri h lower llenl'ir-y pl .del hnriwj 'gl rfngei surlnrw` in riuso proximity lv zich other but spared :spurt er :is to pornnl thc'- veneer tn pais-s l brougli the splice iiitorwiiirug` between surh snrl'lu'es, jfehliing snppintinp` means wonsrructml to diminish the wright whereby the two pistes nril lirli'l together und thereby to diminish tbv infr# suvrfsszuy to J:"urther separate the plut=---. und means for reusing relative l'noweznesu oi the vencer and the plates. Y

G. lfn Veneer-drier, in minbinntion, heele ing-plates arranged in pairs, the pluies ofi efuh pnir hm infr their ndpint surfares in rinse proxiin I" lo ozu-h allier but .simffd innert so 1 `erinit llery veneer ,f through the ilzewfrning: s; nre, '-fivldinn sup porting means .l-r one oi' the plm n1 esili pair, and feeding; ineens loi nursing x'fiiuivc movement of the veneer :1nd thy lim-tingplates n ih the vener-,r between 'le lie-ning;- plntes, the feeding menus .find pains ol been ing-plates being arrange-(l snruvssirel-y" with the pairs of heeingplfltes between lin` leedA ing ineens.

7V A veneer, drier cinnprising heating; plates arranged in pairs, the plates nl verh pair having their ncljncent surfaifes in close proximity to eaih other but spaced apart so as to permit the veneer to pass through the intervening spese, yielding supporting means for one of the plates nl nach pair, feedrollers in pairs, sndyirldini; means cnntroh ling the feed-rolli-ns, the pnirs of feed-rollers und the pairs nl' hoatinpplates being),l nr vranged successively with the pairs of heatingd plates between the pairs ol' feeibrolhrs.

S. A veneer-drier romprisirvf heatingol' Fucili pair beingr arranged one above tbzher with :uljncent oir|iositely-airrengml surfaces, re-

llrnrtive supporting menne for the upper pinto oi earl] pnir, cmistrm-tml *o .support a pnrt only` ol' 'he weight ol the Aippor plate :unl thereby to diminish the force necessary lo lill thv upper plete and leerling means for leerling veneer )otwevn the ndjnignt snrru-rs of thix pluies, the feeding nnrins and pairs ol' hentirng-plates bring :-t|r iessiwly ar Hinged with. the feeding ineens nl the i oper distances to control thi` veneer and witil the pairs of heating-platos between the` leaning moans.

E). ln n veneer-drier, in combination, hea. ing-pluies haring oppositvly-fu:ranged surfaires in proximity to each otlwr, side guiderollers in proximity to the lateral margins tbrr ,l, sind feed-rollers arranged in pairs sin-wsirnly at proper distances to coinrol ilu; vencer, the heating-plates being arranged between the` feed-rollers.

in. ln :i veneer-drier, in combination, a` r-sir ol' lwotingplates arranged one above thv other with adjacent oppositely-arranged sui'iuri's, :i suitable` frame, adjustable Support un@ means for the lower plate and resting upon the frmno, adjustable supporting means for tbv upper plate and resting upon the lower plete, :ind means for feeding the veneer between the plates.

Il. .ln a veneer-drier, in combination, e pair of heating-plates arranged one above the other with adipcent oppositelymrranged surfaces, adjustable supporting *wens for the upper plate and resting upon he lower phil n, und side guide-rollers rotatvely mountrd upon such supporting means.

1i. ln ave11eer-drier,incombination, heating-planas arranged in pairs, the plates of mich pair being arranged one above the nher with adjacent oppositely-rranged surfaces, [vwl-rollers arranged in pairs successively, tbe pairs of hezLtinO- )lates being orrun ed between the pairs ofled-rollers, adjustsy le supporting means for the upper plato of each pair of plates and resting upon the lower plate of the pair, and side guide-rollers rota- EDWIN F.v SMITH.

li tnesses:

A. RA llINTnn, W. bl llimjmii.

IIO 

